The crowd automatically parted, making way for a tall, dark-skinned middle-aged man who walked in.
He was wearing an oil-stained work vest, and a gruesome scar ran down his left arm, from shoulder to wrist.
“Scorpion, sir!” The woman with colorful hair immediately put away her knife, her face replaced with a fawning smile.
Su Wan’s heart jolted; was this Scorpion, the second-in-command Wan Shi Tong mentioned?
It seemed the Hyena Squad truly had some backing.
Scorpion looked around, his gaze locking onto Lu Shiyan: “New here?”
Lu Shiyan nodded, not intimidated: “Just arrived yesterday.”
Scorpion scrutinized him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: “Interesting.”
He turned to the Hyena Squad: “Jimmy, what kind of skill is it for you three to bully a newcomer?”
“Scorpion, sir, this mission was originally reserved for us!” Jimmy, the burly man, argued unwillingly.
Scorpion waved his hand: “The mission hall has its rules; whoever gets it, it’s theirs. Don’t make me lose face here.”
The woman with colorful hair wanted to say something more, but Jimmy pulled her back. He gave the woman a look, then smiled apologetically at Scorpion: “It was our fault, Scorpion, sir, your lesson is well-taken.”
Scorpion nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Lu Shiyan: “Young man, since you’ve got the mission, you must complete it well. Mutated spiders are not easy to deal with, and if you fail…”
He paused meaningfully, “On my territory, I don’t like to see failures.”
Lu Shiyan’s expression remained unchanged: “Then let’s wait and see.”
Scorpion sized them up a few more times, then turned and left. The crowd immediately dispersed, continuing to scramble around the mission board.
The three members of the Hyena Squad also retreated, but before leaving, Jimmy’s cold gaze swept over Lu Shiyan and his group: “Newcomer, be careful with the mission, don’t die out there.”
The woman with colorful hair was even more direct: “This isn’t over!”
After they walked away, Xiao Han quietly said: “It seems we’ve stirred up trouble.”
“Such minor trouble is not worth mentioning,” Lu Shiyan said calmly as he put the mission slip into his pocket, “Let’s go register the mission first.”
Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief, her tense emotions easing slightly. At least the mission was secured, and it was only a yellow-level one, so it shouldn't be too dangerous.
They arrived at the registration desk, where the drowsy staff member didn't even glance at them, mechanically extending his hand: “Mission slip.”
Lu Shiyan handed over the yellow slip. The staff member opened a thick registration book, casually flipped to a page, and scribbled down the time and their names.
“South District Abandoned Factory, completion deadline 7 days,” he said as he wrote, “Don’t go overtime; overtime is considered a forfeiture of the mission, and you won’t be able to accept missions for three months. After completion, bring back the mutated spider’s venom gland as proof.”
He looked up, finally giving them a direct look: “Do you have abilities?”
Lu Shiyan nodded: “Yes.”
“Alright then.” The staff member stamped the book, “Good luck to you.”
From his indifferent tone, no hint of a blessing could be heard.
Leaving the mission hall, Su Wan finally couldn’t help but ask: “That Scorpion, he seems very influential?”
“Second-in-command,” Xiao Han said simply, “He manages District B and mission assignments. Wan Shi Tong says he’s ruthless and enjoys watching people fight, like a gladiatorial arena.”
Su Wan was a little worried: “Will there be trouble?”
Lu Shiyan shook his head: “As long as we complete the mission, there won’t be big problems. It’s that Hyena Squad that might cause trouble.”
“That squad doesn’t look simple,” A Mo rarely spoke, “Especially the burly one, his skills should be good.”
Xiao Han scoffed: “They’re just bullies who pick on the weak; what’s there to be afraid of?”
“Don’t let your guard down,” Lu Shiyan reminded, “Let’s prepare for tomorrow’s mission first. Mutated spiders are said to be highly venomous, so we need to make some preparations.”
Back in their rented apartment, Lu Shiyan immediately started cooking. He moved deftly, and soon, the aroma of food filled the apartment; a plate of scrambled eggs, a pot of stewed minced meat, and a bowl of wild vegetable soup were ready.
As soon as the food was placed on the shaky old wooden table, A Mo helped arrange the simple bowls and chopsticks, then lowered his voice to Lu Shiyan: “South District Abandoned Factory, when I was queuing for water earlier, I overheard people chatting about it. They all said that place is very eerie, and many people have died there.”
“Is it that dangerous?”
Lu Shiyan glanced at her: “It’s fine, you stay at home. A Mo will stay to protect you, Xiao Han and I will go.”
“No!” Su Wan immediately objected, “I must go! I… I can help!”
That abandoned factory was one of the few coordinates in her memory.
The things inside should still be there; the original novel’s female lead, Ying Cai’er, only obtained this batch of firearms much later.
Xiao Han pouted, his tone still not very pleasant: “I say, little Su Wan, you’re a key protection target now, so don’t go causing trouble in places like abandoned factories. If anything happens, won’t Lu Da Shao tear us apart?”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Su Wan’s determined face, then added, “Just rest assured and take care of your pregnancy. When the child is born, I’ll take you to conquer the world.”
Su Wan: “…” She had never hated her incompetence so much.
Su Wan was silent for a moment, pressing her lips together, clenching her fists unwillingly.
“I remember the mission said it was a three-person team. If only two of you go, you’ll be short-handed.”
Lu Shiyan put down his chopsticks, his gaze falling on Su Wan: “Do you have an ability?”
“No, but I can help keep watch, or help you carry things!” Su Wan said eagerly, “I won’t be a burden to you.”
“If you don’t have an ability, don’t go causing trouble,” Xiao Han’s lips curled into a mocking smile, “You can just cheer us on.”
“No!” Su Wan looked at Lu Shiyan, “I must go! If I don’t go, how will you bring things back? I have Space Ability, so let me go, okay?”
Lu Shiyan: “Yes, we all know you have Space Ability, but you’re pregnant. Do you want to risk the child?”
“I…” Su Wan choked, subconsciously touching her still flat abdomen.
Xiao Han laughed gloatingly: “Now you should finally give up, right? Just stay home and be a good pregnant woman.”
“Enough talk.” Lu Shiyan stood up, “We’ll depart early tomorrow morning, Xiao Han and I.”
Su Wan forced a smile: “I understand.” Her arsenal, oh woe is me…
As he looked at Su Wan’s disappointed expression, a flicker of imperceptible hesitation or concern crossed his eyes, but he ultimately stuck to his decision.
It was late at night.
Outside the window, the base was eerily silent, with only occasional roars of unknown creatures echoing in the distance.
In the apartment, Xiao Han and A Mo, who were sleeping in the temporary partition in the living room, had long since fallen asleep, their faint snores coming through the thin wallboard.
Su Wan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
That was firearms!
Not a few broken fruit knives!
It was simply a godsend; no, it was like sending a reinforced company’s firepower in a snowstorm!
What if someone else got there first?
Su Wan suddenly sat up.
What about being pregnant?
Do pregnant women just deserve to stay home and hatch eggs?
Although she had many supplies stockpiled in her space, offensive weapons were pitifully few.
No, she had to go.